Humphrey the Lost Whale Activities & Lessons (Free!)

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Are you hoping to introduce your students to nonfiction? Scoop up our Humphrey the Lost Whale activities and lessons and have fun exploring an amazing nonfiction story about a whale.

Thanks to Andrea Dean and Wende for writing the lessons for this Humphrey the Lost Whale unit study.

Humphrey the Lost Whale Book Summary

I love true stories. And this is no exception.

In October 1985 a forty-five-foot long, forty-ton humpback whale wandered into San Francisco Bay and for twenty-six days struggled mightily to find his way back to the ocean.
from Humphrey the Lost Whale at amazon.com

Even a whale can make a mistake, and even a whale can find his way home. Grab a copy of the book and our Humphrey the Lost Whale unit study and lapbook and spend a week with an amazing tale of an amazing whale.

Humphrey the Lost Whale Lesson Plan

This unit study includes activities and printables based on the book Humphrey the Lost Whale by Wendy Tokuda. Pick and choose from our lessons to create your own Humphrey the Lost Whale lesson plan.

Geography: California
This story takes place in California, on the west coast of the United States, bordered by Oregon, Nevada, and Arizona. California was the 31st state admitted to the union; it was admitted on September 9, 1850. The capital of California is Sacramento, and it is the third largest state in the United States.

Major industries include various agriculture products, oil, mining, electronics, movie making, and tourism. California’s major rivers are the Sacramento River and the San Joaquin River, both of which empty into the Pacific Ocean to the west of the state.

Exciting places to see in California include the Golden Gate Bridge, Redwood National Forest, Yosemite National Park, Death Valley, and Disneyland.

Look at the map inside the cover of the book. Trace Humphrey’s route through the Bay, and up the Sacramento River.

Language Arts: Nonfiction Stories

Humphrey the Lost Whale is based on a true story. When a story is true, it is called nonfiction. In a nonfiction account, facts are important. Information such as people, places, and dates should be as accurate as possible.

Ask your student to write or narrate a story based on a real life event.

You can grab a copy of the entire Humphrey the Lost Whale Unit Study and Lapbook in an easy-to-print file at the end of this post.

Humphrey the Lost Whale Lapbook Printables

In addition to a variety of lessons, this file also includes a Humphrey the Lost Whale Lapbook.

New Words Flap Book
California Shutterfold Book
Cardinal Directions Shutterfold
Landforms Cards & Pocket

Nonfiction Book
Whale Shape Book
Whales Layer Book
Occupations Tab Book

On the Move Mini-book
Humphrey’s Diary Mini-book
How Far? Sound Book

Humphrey the Lost Whale Lapbook Example

This lapbook example was made with one file folder and one piece of cardstock taped to the middle section of the lapbook.

How to Get Started with Your Humphrey the Lost Whale Activities, Lessons, and Printables

Follow these simple instructions to get started with the Humphrey the Lost Whale Unit Study and Lapbook:

Buy a copy of the book, Humphrey the Lost Whale, or borrow one from your local library.
Print the Humphrey the Lost Whale study.
Choose the lessons you want to use with your student (a highlighter works great for this).
Choose and prepare the lapbook printables you want to use with your student.
Enjoy a week of learning all about whales.